Chehalis Man Arrested After More Than 1,000 Pot Plants Found

A Chehalis man was arrested this week after an anonymous tip led officers to find more than 500 mature marijuana plants and more than 700 starts, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Hector Manuel Patino Jr., 52, was charged Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court with manufacturing marijuana. He appeared in custody and was granted $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to court documents and the Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at 10:22 a.m. on Tuesday to an address in the 3300 block of Jackson Highway after receiving an anonymous report of an illegal marijuana grow at the address.

Deputies contacted one resident, but were not admitted into the home. However, they reported smelling the odor of marijuana.

Patino reportedly later allowed the deputies to see some parts of the home, but not all of it. Areas the deputies saw had traces of potting soil. They also found approximately 160 marijuana plants in a garage, though they were dying.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for the property and came back to find 503 mature marijuana plants in a garage and 775 starter marijuana plants in another room in the residence.

They also found fans, filters, bags of potting soil, thermostats, fluorescent lights and loose marijuana leaves.